PORT ANGELES — A public forum allowing residents to ask questions of City Council members has been set for Aug. 27.
The Port Angeles City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the forum — which will be facilitated by the League of Women Voters — for 6 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.
“The League of Women Voters will ask the questions in order to keep the emotion out of the questions,” said Councilman Don Perry.
Questions will be written at the forum and reviewed by City Attorney Bill Bloor to ensure that they do not deal with topics reserved for closed-door executive sessions.
Ray Gruver, an insurance broker and a past president of the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, delivered to City Hall on July 25 a letter signed by 60 community and business leaders asking for a forum in which council members respond to City Manager Mark Madsen’s allegations of “hostile working conditions” and a rift among council members.
Madsen said that these factors forced him to announce his resignation, effective Sept. 1, on July 9.
Madsen will receive severance of at least $37,000. The council has directed the staff to seek an interim city manager locally before expanding the search nationwide.
Deputy Mayor Betsy Wharton asked Gruver on Tuesday if he thought the forum would “hit the spot.”
“For some it will. For some it won’t. But this is the best we can do for right now,” Gruver said.
Mayor Gary Braun asked the council at a special meeting July 29 to consider the idea of a public forum to air the issues, and the council agreed that such a forum should take place at a future date — in a structured manner.
Perry had suggested then that he and Gruver discuss a format with a group experienced in facilitating forums, such as the League of Women Voters.
